[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15921-15922]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ALAN GRAYSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 15, 2013

  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following.


       Recognizing the Career and Contributions of Maria Luyanda

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, to 
recognize Maria Luyanda for her leadership within the Central Florida 
Hispanic Community.
  Maria Luyanda was born in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. She attended 
college at Missouri University and completed courses in accounting at 
Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She began her career as a teller 
at Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, where she was recognized for her 
professionalism and later became assistant manager.
  In 1998, Maria was hired by American Airlines Credit Union as manager 
of the San Juan, Puerto Rico office. During her time at American 
Airlines, Maria established a loan system to benefit the employees of 
the Caribbean islands and was soon appointed Regional Director. She was 
later promoted to Executive Director and became part of the World 
Association of Credit Unions, as operational adviser. In this position, 
she had the opportunity to help smaller credit unions organize their 
operational capabilities and to experience financial growth.
  Maria moved to Orlando, Florida in 1998 and served as the assistant 
Vice President of Banco Popular. In 2004, she started Luyanda Insurance 
with her son Jose, a company dedicated to looking for innovative 
products to satisfy the local market. Maria was also the treasurer and 
vice president of the Hispanic American Professional and Business Women 
Association and on the Board of the Hispanic Youth Group of Deltona. 
Maria currently serves as the President of the Puerto Rican Chamber of 
Commerce and is on the Advisory Board for Polytechnic University's 
Orlando Campus.
  I am happy to honor Maria Luyanda, during Hispanic Heritage Month, 
for her continued leadership within the Central Florida community.


         Recognizing the Public Service of Zoraida Andino Rios

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, to 
recognize the public service of Zoraida Andino Rios. Zoraida was born 
in East Chicago, Indiana. Her passion for social justice started when 
she was studying at Saint Joseph's College where she received a 
Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and Education. As a student, she was the 
founder of an organization called ``Palante'' and was the assistant 
director of a college TV program, ``Know Your Community,'' which 
informs Latino students about issues affecting the Hispanic community. 
She is the proud mother of her two children, Carolina Raquel and 
Gilberto Antonio. Her pride and joy is her granddaughter Analiz Diana 
Balderas.
  In 1979, Zoraida moved to Puerto Rico and worked for several 
community services companies. In 1986, she returned to Indiana and 
began advocating for the rights of the Puerto Rican and Latino 
community. She served as President of Madre Atrevete Muevete Ahora 
(MAMA) and Secretary of the Latino Historical Society. She was also 
active with the Northwest Indiana Voter Registration and Education 
Foundation, United Citizens Organization, and United Farm Workers. 
Zoraida was the cofounder and President of the National Conference of 
Puerto Rican Women and received their Lifetime Achievement Award in 
2000. She also received the Roberto Clemente Community Service Award 
from the Northwest Indiana Coordinating Counsel.
  After moving to Florida with her family, Zoraida became the founder 
and President of the National Conference of Puerto Rican Women's local 
chapter in Orlando. She is also a member of the Asociacion Borinquena 
and La Casa de Puerto Rico. In 2008, she got involved with various 
social justice groups and served as Vice President for Frente Unido 436 
and Vice President of the National Council of Puerto Rican Rights. She 
is also involved with the Black, Latino, Puerto Rican Alliance for 
Justice and is founder and co-director of the Orlando chapter of the 
National Congress of Puerto Rican Rights. She is currently working on 
her project ``Boricua,'' a tool to unite the worldwide Puerto Rican 
community.
  I am happy to honor Zoraida Andino Rios, during Hispanic Heritage 
Month, for her public service to the Hispanic community.


           Recognizing the Service of Melissa McGuire-Maniau

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, to 
recognize an amazing woman in my community, Melissa McGuire-Maniau.
  Melissa McGuire-Maniau was born in Puerto Rico, raised in Orlando and 
is a veteran of the United States Air Force. For the last eight years 
Melissa has been proudly married to her husband, a native of Mexico. 
Together they have three girls.
  Melissa has been at the forefront of the fight for comprehensive 
immigration reform and has helped build a movement in Central Florida 
for the rights of immigrants. Melissa's journey in the immigrant rights 
movement started in 2005 when she began to study her husband's 
immigration case. After living in the United States for over twenty 
years, her husband was still an undocumented immigrant facing 
deportation. Seeking legal status and citizenship for her husband was 
nearly impossible.
  On October 5, 2011, Melissa's husband was taken from their home and 
sent to a private immigrant detention center in South Florida. Having 
worked as a volunteer with several immigrant rights organizations, 
Melissa used her experience to fight back. Thanks to the support and 
collaborative efforts of the community, Melissa's husband was 
eventually released. Her husband became a legal permanent resident in 
April 2013.
  Over the last several years, Melissa and her family have volunteered 
with the National Farm Worker Ministry. Melissa is now the Immigration 
Chair of the Youth and Young Adult Network of the National Farm Worker 
Ministry, and serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors for 
the Florida Immigrant Coalition. Melissa is currently in the Pre-Law 
Program at Rollins College working towards becoming an immigration 
attorney in order to continue the fight for justice for all immigrant 
families.
  I am happy to honor Melissa McGuire-Maniau, during Hispanic Heritage 
Month, for her service to our country and her community.


         Recognizing the Contributions of Vanessa Hall Ferreira

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, to 
recognize the courage and commitment of Vanessa Hall Ferreira. Vanessa 
was born and grew up as the youngest of six in Bridgeport, Connecticut. 
As a young child, Vanessa grew up in a housing project with her single 
mother, 4 sisters, and brother. Vanessa was the first in her family to 
graduate high school. She married her high school sweetheart Alfredo 
Ferreira in 1971 with whom she has two daughters and three grandsons.
  Vanessa began her bakery career in 1983. She got a full time job in 
the bakery of a grocery store, which she really enjoyed. She moved to 
another grocery store chain where there were good worker protections 
and was able to earn a pension and get 100% vested. In 1995, she 
decided to move the family to Florida.
  In 1998, Vanessa got a job at Walmart as a cake decorator. It was a 
great place to work even though the pay was not much. When she asked 
for a 75 cent raise, Walmart denied her, saying it was too much. She 
left to work at a competitor grocery store where she received training, 
great benefits, and higher wages.

[[Page 15922]]

  When the store went out of business, Vanessa had no choice but to go 
back to work at Walmart in 2005. Vanessa and other associates had 
concerns about scheduling and management's attitude toward the workers. 
Eventually, the store began to hire temporary workers instead of giving 
full time work to the current employees.
  In 2009, Vanessa discovered the Organization United for Respect at 
Walmart or OUR Walmart. She became an ``Our Walmart'' member online but 
kept her membership private. In 2012, Vanessa went on strike at her 
store during the week of Black Friday. Vanessa returned back to work 
after going on strike with a new sense of dignity.
  Vanessa became one of the main leaders for Our Walmart in Central 
Florida. In April 2013, Vanessa was fired from her position with 
Walmart in retaliation for her activism. She continues to advocate for 
workers' rights by sharing her own experiences.
  I am happy to honor Vanessa Hall Ferreira, during Hispanic Heritage 
Month, for her courage and commitment to workers' rights.


                 Recognizing the Career of Marcos Vilar

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, to 
recognize the career of Marcos Vilar. Mr. Vilar was born in Ponce, 
Puerto Rico. He moved to the United States at the age of 14 and has 
since lived in New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Washington, DC, Chicago, 
Tampa, and Orlando. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in History from the 
University of Maryland and a Master's Degree in Education from the 
University of Illinois, Chicago.
  Mr. Vilar worked as a teacher in Chicago, where he also was active in 
community work. During his tenure at Roberto Community Academy he was 
best known for working with at risk youth and developing arts and 
cultural programming into after school activities. He was also advisor 
for the Student Government body and a leader of the local reform 
movement at the school.
  Mr. Vilar moved to Washington, DC in January of 2002, and there held 
several national leadership positions including National Field Director 
for the Que Nada Nos Detenga, voter registration campaign of the Puerto 
Rico Federal Affairs Administration, Executive Director for America's 
Families United, National Political Director for SEIU, and National 
Field Director for Mi Familia Vota Education Fund.
  Mr. Vilar's work as Executive Director for America's Families United 
was fundamental to the development of Catalist, which has become the 
standard voter file database used by progressive organizations. He was 
also a founding member of the Catalist Board of Managers.
  As Political Director of SEIU, Mr. Vilar focused on improving member 
databases and was responsible for aggressively growing the COPE Fund, 
SEIU's Political Action Committee (PAC). During his two year tenure, 
the PAC doubled its annual income and became the largest PAC in the 
country.
  As National Field Director for Mi Familia Vota Education Fund, Mr. 
Vilar led efforts to engage Latinos in the 2012 election cycle. He was 
instrumental in the development and success of the National Latino 
Civic Engagement Table, a coalition of national organizations working 
together to increase Latino civic participation in key states. In 
addition he oversaw the opening of Mi Familia Vota Education Fund 
operations in Texas and Florida in 2011 and 2012.
  Vilar moved to Florida in 2012 and served as statewide coordinator 
for the Alliance for Citizenship, a national immigration reform 
campaign. He is now working as Statewide Field Director for Florida New 
Majority.
  I am happy to honor Marcos Vilar, during Hispanic Heritage Month, for 
his many accomplishments and contributions to his community.


      Recognizing the Career and Service of Luis R. Pastrana Silva

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, to 
recognize Luis R. Pastrana Silva for his service to our country and to 
the Hispanic community in Central Florida.
  Mr. Pastrana was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. He holds a B.B.A. 
from the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), Rio Piedras Campus, an M.B.A. 
from Farleigh Dickinson University, and a J.D. from the UPR School of 
Law. Mr. Pastrana honorably served as a commissioned officer in the 
U.S. Army for 20 years. After his retirement from the Army in 1978, Mr. 
Pastrana held several positions within the government of Puerto Rico, 
promoting business and economic development.
  In 2001, he moved to Orlando to serve as the Puerto Rico Federal 
Affairs Administration's Regional Director for Southern States. Since 
2003, he has served as Distinguished Professor at the Ana G. Mendez 
University System in Orlando, FL. He is also a member of the Puerto 
Rico Bar, the American Bar Association, and the Hispanic National Bar 
Association.
  Mr. Pastrana has been a leader in the Puerto Rican community in 
Central Florida and a champion for business development. He has 
published two autobiographies and one research book on the U.S. 
Constitution. He is happily married to Mareitssa Griggs, a college 
professor, and together they have five children and five grandchildren.
  I am happy to honor Luis R. Pastrana Silva, during Hispanic Heritage 
Month, for his service to our country and to the Hispanic community.


          Honoring the Legacy of Love of Juanita Garcia Peraza

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month to 
recognize the life and legacy of Juanita Garcia Peraza, founder of the 
Congregacion Mita Church.
  Juanita Garcia Peraza was born on June 24, 1897, in Hatillo, Puerto 
Rico. She came from a distinguished family, and was known for her moral 
and spiritual values, her love for the poor, and her sensitivity toward 
the pain of others. In the late 1930's, when Puerto Rico and the U.S. 
were experiencing a great economic crisis, Juanita became ill and was 
bed-ridden with gastroenteritis. While confined with the illness, 
Juanita promised the Lord that if He healed her, she would serve Him 
for the rest of her days. She was healed. She then abandoned her social 
position and fortune, and traveled the countryside visiting the poor 
and the needy to preach the good news.
  In 1940, in the town of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, Juanita founded the 
Congregacion Mita Church with a message of love, freedom, and unity. In 
1947, the Church was established in the capital city of San Juan, in 
the Hato Rey sector. She performed missionary work, visiting prisons 
and hospitals and helping reform many alcoholics and drug addicts. In 
addition to her spiritual work, Juanita carried out extraordinary 
social work in the community. She developed credit unions and 
corporations that provide employment and economic opportunities to 
members of the church. She established Bible schools, known as the 
``Consejero,'' to instruct, counsel, and guide children in their 
integral development. She founded music academies to benefit children 
and adolescents by encouraging their development in the arts. Also, she 
established the Ministry of Guards to watch over the church's 
properties and the surrounding neighborhoods.
  Likewise, Juanita established the Ministry of Preachers and Deacons 
who perform social work wherever the congregation is established. She 
envisioned the creation of a shelter for the elderly and a school for 
the children and youth of the community, both of which became a reality 
a few years after she passed away. Under her leadership, her work 
spread to New York, Chicago, and Washington, DC, as well as Santo 
Domingo and Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic.
  Juanita initiated a new era for women. At a time when women were not 
allowed to officiate in church and faced discrimination, she removed 
barriers and cleared the way for women to express themselves openly. 
Juanita allowed women equal participation in the church, including 
leadership roles. Despite being assailed, slandered, and 
misinterpreted, she pushed ahead bravely, leaving behind a legacy of 
love in the hearts of those who knew her.
  In 1978, the Universidad Hispano Americana recognized Juanita for her 
extraordinary work, and awarded her the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 
in Management Honoris Causae. A public elementary school in one of the 
communities where she served was also named in her honor.
  I am happy to honor Juanita Garcia Peraza, during Hispanic Heritage 
Month, for all her hard work, courage, and dedication.

                          ____________________